Texas A&M

Texas A&M Stuns Notre Dame 41-40 in Heart-Stopping Thriller

Don Watz

Marcel Reed found Nate Boerkircher in the corner of the end zone with 13 seconds left, capping a dramatic comeback that sent the Texas A&M Aggies to a stunning 41-40 victory over Notre Dame on Saturday night at Notre Dame Stadium.

The win snapped a 13-game road losing streak for the Aggies against top-10 opponents, dating back to 2015, and dealt a crushing blow to Notre Dame’s College Football Playoff hopes in front of a stunned home crowd.

 

Five Key Storylines That Defined This Epic Battle

1. The Clutch Drive That Broke Hearts

With 2:47 left on the clock and trailing 40-34, Reed engineered the drive of his young career. The Texas A&M quarterback methodically moved the Aggies 74 yards in 13 plays, showing poise that belied his experience. On fourth-and-11 from the Notre Dame 11-yard line, Reed scrambled left and found Nate Boerkircher in the corner for the game-winner. The touchdown pass came after Reed had been shaken up earlier in the quarter following a vicious hit from Notre Dame safety Adon Shuler.

“That’s what champions are made of,” said one Texas A&M assistant coach, wiping away tears on the sideline.

2. The Missed Extra Point That Changed Everything

After Jeremiyah Love powered through the Texas A&M defense for a 12-yard touchdown run with 3:35 remaining, Notre Dame appeared destined for victory. But the snap on the extra point attempt went awry, leaving the Irish with just a six-point lead instead of seven. That single point proved to be the difference in a game decided by the thinnest of margins.

The botched conversion left Notre Dame fans holding their breath, sensing that their team had left the door open for heartbreak.

3. A Penalty That Cost Notre Dame 

Following the missed extra point, Texas A&M’s Terry Bussey appeared to deliver the knockout punch with a kickoff return for a touchdown. The stadium fell silent as Bussey raced untouched down the sideline. But a holding penalty on Theo Ohrstrom brought the play back, forcing the Aggies to start their final drive from their own 26-yard line. The penalty looked like it might save Notre Dame’s season – until Reed’s heroics proved otherwise.

4. Love’s Gutsy Performance Under Pressure

Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love embodied everything the Fighting Irish needed on Saturday night. The junior converted a crucial fourth-and-1 at the Texas A&M 18-yard line, then powered through three defenders for the go-ahead touchdown. Love finished with 94 rushing yards and a touchdown, plus four catches for 53 yards and another score through the air. His performance kept Notre Dame in the fight until the very end.

5. Reed’s Resilience After Scary Hit

Marcel Reed’s toughness became the story within the story. After absorbing a brutal hit from Adon Shuler that resulted in a targeting penalty and ejection, Reed needed medical attention on the sideline. Shuler’s helmet-to-helmet contact sent shockwaves through the stadium, but Reed returned to engineer the game-winning drive. His 360 passing yards and two touchdowns proved that sometimes heart matters more than physical condition.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

First Quarter: Special Teams Sets the Tone

Notre Dame struck first blood with aggressive special teams play, blocking a Texas A&M punt and returning it for a touchdown to take an early 7-0 lead. The Aggies answered immediately when Marcel Reed found Mario Craver streaking down the sideline for an 86-yard touchdown bomb that silenced the crowd momentarily. Notre Dame regained the lead when Jadarian Price punched in a 7-yard rushing touchdown, ending the first quarter with a 14-7 advantage.

Second Quarter: Offensive Explosion

The second quarter belonged to the running backs. Texas A&M’s Le’Veon Moss powered his way to two rushing touchdowns, giving the Aggies momentum as they took control of the line of scrimmage. Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr responded with a beautiful 36-yard touchdown pass to Love, but Texas A&M entered halftime with a crucial 28-24 lead. The Aggies had seized momentum at exactly the right time although it was tempered by the scary injury suffered by their safety Bryce Anderson with one minute left in the second quarter. 

Third Quarter: Defensive Adjustments

Both defenses tightened up in the third quarter, with Notre Dame managing just seven points on a 17-yard touchdown run by Jadarian Price. Texas A&M answered with a 43-yard field goal by Randy Bond to knot the game at 31-31. The quarter’s biggest moment came when Daymion Sanford stuffed Jeremiyah Love on a fourth-and-1 attempt, giving Texas A&M possession and crucial momentum heading into the final frame.

Fourth Quarter: Drama Reaches Its Peak

The fourth quarter delivered everything college football fans dream about. Notre Dame appeared to take control when Love scored his second rushing touchdown, but the missed extra point kept hope alive for the Aggies. After the penalty-nullified kickoff return, Reed led the methodical drive that culminated in the game-winning touchdown to Boerkircher with 13 seconds remaining, sending the Texas A&M section into pandemonium.

Statistical Summary

 Reed completed 17 of 37 passes for 360 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, engineering the upset with his arm and his legs. Mario Craver torched the Notre Dame secondary for seven catches, 207 yards, and a touchdown, consistently finding openings in the Irish secondary.

For Notre Dame, Carr threw for 293 yards on 20-of-32 passing with one touchdown and one interception.  Love carried the offense with 94 rushing yards and 53 receiving yards, accounting for two total touchdowns. Price added 68 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries.

Le’Veon Moss dominated on the ground for Texas A&M, rushing 20 times for 81 yards and three touchdowns, consistently finding holes in Notre Dame’s front seven. Defensively, Marcus Ratcliffe led the Aggies with eight tackles, while Scooby Williams came up with a crucial interception of Carr.

The victory moves Texas A&M to 2-1 on the season and proves they belong in conversations about the nation’s elite programs. For Notre Dame, the loss raises serious questions about their playoff aspirations and their ability to win the games that matter most.

Don recently returned to writing after a hiatus. His work has appeared in numerous publications, including the USA Today, Tallahassee Democrat, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Detroit Free Press, and Arizona Republic.

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